Comments on: Mental Multivitamin on “Happy Endings Are All Alike” http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4668 Reading, Writing, Movies and Mothering in Minneapolis, Mostly Mon, 11 May 2026 21:03:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: cbjames http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4668&cpage=1#comment-28373 cbjames Mon, 30 Jul 2012 21:47:28 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4668#comment-28373 In 1978 I was a freshman in high school. I remember this book making the rounds along with another book she worte about two boys who fall in love. In both books one of the "lovers" is severely punished by the end, a rape in one and a death in the other. This was a fairly common ending for YA books with LGBT characters in those days, as I remember them. Not exactly the ending I wanted. She later went on two write a terrific murder mystery series. But the awful truth about YA readers, my students at least, is that they want new books with new stories. Very few of them will ever pick up anything older than they are unless directed to by an adult. Adult readers are pretty much the same. In 1978 I was a freshman in high school. I remember this book making the rounds along with another book she worte about two boys who fall in love. In both books one of the “lovers” is severely punished by the end, a rape in one and a death in the other. This was a fairly common ending for YA books with LGBT characters in those days, as I remember them.

Not exactly the ending I wanted.

She later went on two write a terrific murder mystery series.

But the awful truth about YA readers, my students at least, is that they want new books with new stories. Very few of them will ever pick up anything older than they are unless directed to by an adult. Adult readers are pretty much the same.

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